Sources told ESPN that DeAndre Jordan, a three-time All Star center, has signed with the Los Angeles Lakers after completing a contract buyout with Detroit Pistons.
Sources told ESPN that Detroit purchased Jordan, four second-round picks, and $5.78million in a deal with Brooklyn. The intention was to buy out Jordan's remaining two years and $20,000,000 on Jordan’s contract.
Jordan must sign waivers once the buyout agreement has been signed before he can become a free agent and sign with the Lakers. Jordan's contract terms make it almost impossible for a team to claim him.
Sources say that the Nets acquired Jahlil Okafor, and Sekou Doumbouya as part of their deal with Detroit. Sources said that the Pistons will receive their 2022- and 2027 second round picks, along with the more favorable Washington Wizards-Memphis Grizzlies 2024 second-rounder and the more favorable Wizards-Gold State Warriors 2025 second-rounder.
The Nets can trade Jordan's contract to avoid buying it out. This will provide financial relief for the Nets in the short-term, as well as future tax penalties that start in 2023.
Brooklyn had the option to waive and stretch the $19.7m Jordan's contract owed over five seasons. That would have represented a $3.9m cap hit that would have lingered on team books from 2021-2025. Although the move could have saved them money on their luxury tax bill over the next two seasons, it would have cost them an additional $20 million in 2023-24 and $50 million in 2025-26.
Sources say it is unclear if the Nets will retain Okafor and Doumbouya, or decide to waive them. This will be determined over the next few days and weeks. Sources claim that the Nets plan to waive forward Alize Johnson.
Jordan will be returning to Los Angeles where he spent the first ten of his professional career with the Clippers. The Lakers have signed several veteran players to the bench, including Dwight Howard, an eight-time All Star center, and Marc Gasol (a three-time All Star) to the team's roster.
Gasol arrived in L.A. having a championship pedigree, which he had in Toronto, and bloodlines that link him to the franchise. His brother, Pau Bryant, won two titles with the franchise. Gasol signed a two-year contract that was slightly more than the minimum veteran's contract. However, he struggled to find his shot early on, shooting only 40.3% from field before the All-Star break.
Marc Gasol was brought to Lakers in part for his ability as a secondary playmaker at center. Jordan has a similar skill set and is a great asset to JaVale McGee. McGee was traded to Dwight Howard, who teamed up with him to play alongside Anthony Davis in the frontcourt. This tandem served as a vertical threat and rim-protecting big during L.A.'s Orlando bubble championship run.
Jordan was signed as a free agent by Brooklyn, along with Kevin Durant in 2019 and Kyrie Irving. In the beginning, Jordan was a substitute at the starting center for Jarrett Allen. He was later traded to Cleveland in the four-team deal that brought the Nets All NBA guard James Harden to the Nets. Jordan's role was diminished after the Nets acquired Blake Griffin and Aldridge.
In Brooklyn, Jordan averaged 7.75 points and 7.5 rebounds last season.
This report was contributed by Malika Andrews, Bobby Marks, and Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
